Dubai: Salam Stores, which recently opened its flagship outlet in Dubai, is set to expand its business further by opening four stand-alone boutiques at Dubai Mall, a company official said.

Ebrahim Bitar, Salam Stores' regional manager, said they have other retail expansion plans in the pipeline and are negotiating with the UAE's major retail developers to deliver "fashion solutions."

The boutiques set to open at Dubai Mall will be Escada, Plus IT, Joop and Salam Kids.

Market needs

"Dubai is a dynamic market. As a fashion retail player, our style is to move in tune with the market. Since we are following the market needs and demands, we do have expansion plans and we are under negotiations with major retail developers in the UAE to deliver world-class fashion solutions," Bitar told Gulf News.

Over five decades ago, Salam Stores made its presence felt in Doha, Qatar, as a provider of photography services. The firm later expanded to become a major retailer, operating outlets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Muscat and Doha.

Last May, the company unveiled its 11,000-square-metre store at Wafi Dubai, offering more than 600 international brands in five distinct sections: men, women and kids' fashion accessories, perfumes and cosmetics, photography, home accessories and jewellery.

Bitar said the Qatari company decided to set up the largest flagship store in Dubai because the growth in the UAE economy and the maturity of its market are an "inviting proposition."